A local group of Falun Gong practitioners today claimed that they have been unfairly portrayed in the media and wished to set the record straight.

"There have been many reports on the Falun Gong in the local newspapers over the past few months, some of which were untrue.

"We therefore feel that is our responsibility to do so in order to let the public understand us better," a statement from the Falun Dafa Research Centre (FDRC) said.

The statement was read out to reporters by FDRC spokesperson Gan Boon Soon at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Asked which newspapers published the reports, Gan refused to specify saying that he did not wish to point fingers at anyone.

Last Thursday, the Malay Mail quoted MCA public services and complaints department head Michael Chong as saying that FDRC activities should be investigated by the police as it was not a properly registered body.

Non-profit company

On this, Gan explained that the FDRC was in fact registered but with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) and not the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

"We choose to register with the ROC as a non-profit company although we understand that Qigong (a form of martial art) or religious groups are supposed to register with the ROS," he said.

Gan added that they applied to register with the ROS three years ago but received strong opposition from some quarters that finally resulted in the application being rejected.

Asked who the 'quarters' were, he became circumspect and refused to give details. The FDRC was registered with the ROC last year.

The group was warned earlier this year by the then deputy home minister Chor Chee Heung that they were being watched closely by the authorities and that the government would not tolerate any interference from the movement into China's internal politics.

However, Gan told reporters that they were not facing direct persecution from the government and that their relationship was improving.

Last Thursday, Gan and his colleagues sent a memorandum to the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur pleading to the Chinese government to end their persecution of the 12-year old movement.

According to human rights reports on Falun Gong, hundreds of followers had died in China from alleged maltreatment during their detention by the authorities.

'Stop the persecution'

Falun Dafa or Falun Gong has been banned in China since July 1999 after the Chinese government labeled the 100-million strong movement and its founder Li Hongzhi as a 'evil cult' and threat to China's security.

Gan added that the FDRC was not interfering in Chinese affairs but that they were only concerned for the well-being of their fellow practitioners in China.

"Please stop the persecution. Our voice is small but we are just trying to help, we are not against China or Anti-China even though we are being persecuted.

"But when the movement became too big, one person (former Chinese president Jiang Zemin) was frightened and that was why we were persecuted," he said.

According to Gan, it was not in the interest of the FDRC to oppose or threaten any government as it was against the movement's principles.

"Falun Gong practitioners will not oppose any country or government. We have only one objective, that is to let more people understand Falun Gong.

"We are just a very simple group of practitioners who practice qigong to improve health and follow the principles of 'truthfulness, compassion and forbearance'," he said.